Haichang Chengdu Polar Ocean World

This past weekend we made it to Polar Ocean World.  It was a beautiful sunny day(I actually remembered the sunscreen) and the crowds weren't terribly bad.  Although it amazes me, you go to a place like this and we end up being stared at more than the Polar Bears!  The kids had a blast watching all the animals behind glass.  I had a great time too despite being stung by a bee, my camera battery dying and my chicken burger looking more like a deep fried squirrel!  All in all it was a great day and it made me so happy to see happy(and clean) animals too!

Spring has Sprung in Chengdu

I'm seriously obsessing just a wee bit over all the blossoming trees right now!  Back home in Alberta I think they are still under snow so this is really exciting for me!  Normally I don't see much in the way of flowers until June or so!  Here's a little taste of what I've been looking at lately.

Gardens on the Roof

It took two days for a hired group of workers to make three garden beds on our roof. Two for veggies and one for flowers. The first day all the materials were carried in a basket on the back of one very strong machine of a woman. First she took bricks, then mortar, then the tile for the outside of the beds and finally 40kg sack after 40kg sack of soil. It took her six hours. It made me feel incredibly lazy and I wished I could have helped but to be perfectly honest, I couldn't even make on of those sacks budge!

I can't wait to get planting!!

From The Grocery Store...

I don't know if its everywhere in China but here in Chengdu they like their rabbit. Particularly the head. There are even restaurants all over the city called 'The Deliciousness Rabbit Head.'

Mmmmm! Appetizing huh?

There's a monkey on your back!

Just as we were leaving the Buddha park on Saturday, we were stopped by two fellows and their monkeys.  25 rmb to have your photo taken with the monkeys plus a picture to take home as a keepsake.  Yup, it was worth it!

Needless to say, the kids came home and had showers after just to be safe ;)

More from Leshan

Besides the Giant Buddha in Leshan there were many other amazing carved statues to see.  Unfortunately a lot of them are replicas rather than the real thing but they are amazing and beautiful all the same!

The Leshan Giant Buddha in Instagram

According to what I have read, The Giant Buddha was begun in 713AD and finished in 803AD. It was carved out of the cliff face on the Dadu and Qingyi rivers. It was built in the hopes that its presence would calm the rivers turbulent and dangerous waters. The seated Buddha is 233 feet tall and the big toe would be large enough to seat an entire family(if you were allowed to sit on it of course)

All along the path on the hike up, there are smaller Buddhas carved into the cliff walls. It was pretty amazing. Photos don't really do the Buddha itself justice as it was awe inspiring! It took us close to two hours between standing in line and actually walking down the very steep and winding staircase to the foot of the statue but only about 15 minutes to go back up the other side!

Lost in Translation

This is just down right hilarious! I chuckled the whole way out of the bathroom.